Cessna 172S accident near Mount Gilead, Ohio, September 6, 2004
On September 6, 2004 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N809SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mount Gilead, Ohio (Mount Gilead airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions which resulted in a collision with the runway. A factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2004 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Gilead, Ohio · Mount Gilead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N809SP · registry record · serial 172S8112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach to runway 10, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence and the pilot noted that the windsock was perpendicular to the runway. As the pilot attempted to flare the airplane, a crosswind forced the left wing down, and it struck the runway. The airplane yawed to the right, and then to the left, and the pilot applied full power in an attempt to "regain altitude." The airplane then veered left, and impacted the ground about 20 feet from a building.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 810 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 26, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLZ Delaware OH at 12:45 pm
- Destination: 4I9 Mount Gilead OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,497 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from MNN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.